pgapeuro - History of the West End

The History of the West End Theatres and Plays

The West End of London in Great Britain has been home to some of the greatest plays and musicals ever to have been released. It has also been the springboard for many actors andd actresses who have ended up being some of the greatest thespians of all time. The West End is the equivalent to New York's Broadway, but one major difference is how much more elaborate, decorative, prestigious and royal West End's theatres and theatre architecture are in comparison to Broadway. Theatre at the West End used to only be of interst to the aristocratic upper class, but now, its audience has grown to all types of people who are looking to have fun and who want to enjoy an exhilirating and amazing performance by some of the greatest actors ever.

The first playhouse/theatre was built at the location known as the Shoreditch in 1576. The name of the theatre was representative of its jubilation and vibrancy back then with the very amazing name "The Theatre." Sadly, it was destoryed in 1672 by a fire.

Many people call London the "theatre capital of the world" due to its overwhelming abundance of great actors and directors, number of performances and its great accessability and prices.

The world's longest running production calls the West End its home, Agatha Christie's 'The Mousetrap.' It's been running for 54 years, and it still continues to have large crowds.

Some of the West End's most famous productions are the following:

'Les Miserables'- The musical is set during the French Revolution and revolves around the peasant and ex-convict Jean Valjean who is trying to redeem himself from his past actions. He also is the leader of the peasants' revolt and their fight against the aristocracy. Ideas of love, justice and family also encompass the main points of the musical.
'The Phantom of the Opera'- It is a fantastic Andrew Lloyd Webber musical whose protagonist, Eric, is a deformed musical genius who wears a white mask on half of his face to hide a scar. He falls in love with a fellow musician, and the story's main ideas are of love, beauty and the search for people who don't look at others skin-deep.
'The Lion King'- This musical takes place in Africa. The story revolves around a group of lions, including the main character, Simba, a young lion, and his journey and the troubles he has along the way in trying to become the Lion King and his search for the "Circle of Life."
Other notable musicals and plays that have played in the West End include the following:
- 'Chicago'
- 'Wicked'
- 'Stomp'
- 'Cats'
- 'Mamma Mia!'
- 'Guys and Dolls'
- 'Hairspray'
- 'Jersey Boys'
- 'Rent'
- 'The Sound of Music'

Here are some examples of London's West End Theatres:

Adelphi Theatre
inside the Adelphi theatre
- built in 1806 by John of London Wall and designed by Samuel Beazley
- seats 1500-2000
- when you purchase a ticket at the theatre, you are not paying for admission rather for the right to the seat
  - therefore, you literally own the seat for one day
- 3 renovations
  - last one done in 1930

Theatre Royal Drury Lane
- oldest theatre built in the West End
  - 1663
- 3 renovations
- 1st- built by Thomas Killigrew by charter of Charles II
  - opened May 7, 1663
    Royal Drury Lane
  - fire
    - burnt down in 1672
- 2nd- 1674 built by Sir Christopher Wren
- 3rd- 1794 by Henry Holland
  - deemed the "Fireproof Theatre"
  - fire-burnt down-1809
- 4th- Benjamin Wyatt- 1812

The Old Vic Theatre
- built in 1818 and called the "Royal Coburg"
- name changed in 1833 to Royal Victoria and then shortened to Old Vic
- refurbished/rebuilt
  Old Vic Theatre
  - 1876
  - 1926
  - 1983
- The Old Vic Shakespeare Company
  - founded by Lilian Baylis in 1914
  - included many greats including:
    - Edith Evans
    - Laurence Olivier
    - Ralph Richardson

The Haymarket Theatre
- architect- John Nash
  John Nash
  - born-1752
  - Nash designed the following:
    - Regent Street
    - Regent's Park
    - St. James Park
    - Georgian terraces
    - Buckingham Palace
    - planned Trafalgar Square
- first known as "The Little Theatre In the Haymarket" in 1720
  THe Haymarket Theatre
- present theatre opened in 1821
- refurbished/rebuilt
  - 1880
  - 1905
  - 1939
  - 1941

Aldwych Theatre
- opened 1905
  Aldwych Theatre
- built as a pair with the Strand Theatre on both sides of the Waldorf Hotel
- home of The Royal Shakespeare Company from 1960 to 1982